Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM6’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM6’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit; dark greyed purple-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with white-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM6’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM6’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCrapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM6’ andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM6’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branchingCrapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flowercolors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor during the summer of 2015 of Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebonyand Ivory’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withLagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected by theInventor in May, 2016 as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nurseryenvironment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwoodcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss.since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of the newCrapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘JM6’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘JM6’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit.    -   4. Dark greyed purple-colored leaves.    -   5. Numerous inflorescences with white-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Ebony and Ivory’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differprimarily from plants of ‘Ebony and Ivory’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are larger than plants of        ‘Ebony and Ivory’.    -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous than plants        of ‘Ebony and Ivory’.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Natchez’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily fromplants of Natchez in leaf color as plants of the new Crapemyrtle havedark greyed purple-colored leaves whereas plants of ‘Natchez’ have lightgreen-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of theLagerstroemia L. ‘PIILAG-I’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,168. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘PIILAG-I’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are taller and are more        vigorous than plants of ‘PIILAG-I’.    -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored        leaves whereas plants of ‘PIILAG-I’ have dark green-colored        leaves.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of theLagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony Glow’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plantsof ‘Ebony Glow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle grow faster than        plants of ‘Ebony Glow’.    -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have larger leaves than plants        of ‘Ebony Glow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘JM6’ grown in a container in an outdoornursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘JM6’ grown in a container in an outdoornursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 7-gallon containers in Park Hill,Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. during the summer in outdoor nurseries andunder cultural conditions which closely approximate commercialCrapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 33° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C.Plants were three years when the photographs and the description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM6’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Ebony and            Ivory’, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one            month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one            month for softwood cuttings and about two months for            hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to            somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and            sturdy growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four to            six primary branches each with numerous secondary and            tertiary lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 88 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 76 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 87 cm.        -   Diameter, proximally.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—About 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; woody and glabrous with age;            matte.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 185A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 177A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A tinged with            close to 200A; venation, close to 183A. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to            144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 183A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled            flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering            habit with usually about twelve flowers per inflorescence            and numerous inflorescences developing during the flowering            season; flowers face upright and outwardly; flowers not            persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle            flower during the late summer and autumn in Fort Worth, Tex.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.7 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Obovate to spherical. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Proximally, close to 144A;            distally and sutures, close to 59A to 59B.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in            a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate, ruffled            appearance. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire, undulate, ruffled            appearance. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; soft; delicate; matte. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; flower            stalk, close to 59A to 59B; colors do not change with            development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in            a single whorl. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 144B to 144C. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 144A; towards the            margins, close to 59A to 59B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° from stem            axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color: Proximally, close to 59A to 59B; distally, close to            144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About            twelve. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close            to NN155B to NN155C. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther            shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 7A. Amount of pollen:            None observed. Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1.3 cm. Style            color: Close to 58A to 58B. Stigma appearance: Spherical.            Stigma color: Close to NN137A. Ovary: Close to 10B to 10C.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been            observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be    cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been    observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and    powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new    Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM6’ asillustrated and described.